FREE AUSTRALIAN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT: SIX EXPLORATIONS PDF

Wayne Hudson | 352 pages | 20 Apr 2016 | Monash University Publishing | 9781922235763 | English | Clayton, VIC, Australia Australian Religious Thought | NewSouth Books

The history of Australia is the story of the land and peoples of the continent of Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations. Aboriginal Australians first arrived on the Australian mainland by sea from Maritime Southeast Asia between 40, and 70, years ago, and penetrated to all parts of the continent, from the rainforests in the north, the deserts of the centreand the sub-Antarctic islands of Tasmania and Bass Strait. The artisticmusical and spiritual traditions they established are among the longest surviving such traditions in human history. The first Torres Strait Islanders - ethnically and culturally distinct from Aboriginal Australians - arrived from what is now Papua New Guinea around 2, years ago, and settled in the islands of the Torres Strait and the Cape York Peninsula forming the northern tip of the Australian landmass. Macassan trepangers visited Australia's northern coasts afterpossibly earlier. He returned to London with accounts favouring colonisation at Botany Bay now in Sydney. The First Fleet of British ships arrived at Botany Bay in January [2] to establish a penal colonythe first colony on the Australian mainland. In the century that followed, the British established other colonies on the continent, and European explorers ventured into its interior. Indigenous Australians were greatly weakened and their numbers diminished by introduced diseases and conflict with the colonists during this period. Gold rushes and agricultural industries brought prosperity. Autonomous parliamentary democracies began to be established throughout the six British colonies from the midth century. The colonies voted by referendum to unite in a federation inand modern Australia came into being. Australia fought Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations the side of Britain in the two world wars and became a long-standing ally of the Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations States when threatened by Imperial Japan during World War II. Trade with Asia increased and a post-war immigration program received more than 6. Indigenous Australians are believed to have arrived in Australia 40, to 50, years ago, and possibly as early as 65, years ago. At the time of first European contact, it has been estimated the existing population was at least , [7] [8] while recent archaeological finds suggest that a population Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorationscould have been sustained. There is considerable archaeological discussion as to the route taken by the first colonisers. People appear to have arrived by sea during a period of glaciation, when New Guinea and Tasmania Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations joined to the continent ; however, the journey still required sea travel, making them Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations the world's earlier mariners. If they arrived around 70, years ago, they could have crossed the water from Timor, when the sea level was low, but if they came later, around 50, years ago, a more likely route would have been through the Moluccas to New Guinea. Given that the likely landfall regions have been under around 50 metres of water for the last 15, years, it is unlikely that the timing will ever be established with certainty. The earliest known human remains were found at Lake Mungoa dry lake in the southwest of New South Wales. The Dreaming established the laws and structures of society and the ceremonies performed to ensure continuity of life and land. It remains a prominent feature of Australian Aboriginal Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations. Aboriginal Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations is believed to be the oldest continuing tradition of art in the world. Manning Clark wrote that the ancestors of the Aborigines were slow to reach Tasmania, probably owing to an ice barrier existing across the South East of the Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations. The Aborigines, he noted, did not develop agriculture, probably owing to a lack of seed bearing plants and animals suitable for domestication. Thus, the population remained low. Clark considered that the three potential pre-European colonising powers and traders of East Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations Hindu-Buddhists of southern India, the Muslims of Northern India and the Chinese—each petered out in their southward advance and Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations not attempt a settlement across the straits separating Indonesia from Australia. But trepang fisherman did reach the north coast, which they called "Marege" or "land of the trepang". The greatest population density for Aborigines developed Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations the southern and eastern regions, the River Murray valley in particular. The arrival of Australia's first people affected the continent significantly, and, along with climate changemay have contributed to the extinction of Australia's megafauna. One genetic study in by Irina Pugach and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology has suggested that about 4, years before the First Fleet landed, some Indian explorers settled in Australia and assimilated into the local population in roughly BC. Despite considerable cultural continuity, life was not without significant changes. Some 10—12, years ago, Tasmania became isolated from the mainland, and some stone technologies failed Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations reach the Tasmanian people such as the hafting of stone tools and the use of the Boomerang. The early wave of European observers like William Dampier described the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of the Aborigines of the West Coast as arduous and "miserable". Lieutenant James Cook on the other hand, speculated in his journal that the "Natives of New Holland" the East Coast Aborigines whom he encountered might in fact be far happier than Europeans. Bythe population existed as individual nations, many of which were in alliance with one another, and within each nation there existed several clans, from as few as five or six to as many as 30 or Each nation had its own language and a few had multiple, thus over languages existed, around of which are now extinct. Permanent European settlers arrived at Sydney in and came to control most of the continent by end of the 19th century. Bastions of largely unaltered Aboriginal societies survived, particularly in Northern and Western Australia into the 20th century, until finally, a group of Pintupi people of the Gibson Desert became the last people to be contacted by outsider ways in Twenty-nine other Dutch navigators explored the western and southern coasts in the 17th century, and dubbed the continent New Holland. No European Nation has a right to occupy any part of their country, or settle among them without their voluntary consent. Conquest over such people can give no just title: because they could never be the aggressors. The first governorArthur Phillipwas instructed explicitly to establish friendship and good relations with the Aborigines, and interactions between the early newcomers and the ancient landowners varied considerably throughout the colonial period—from the curiosity displayed by the early Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations Bennelong and Bungaree of Sydney to the outright hostility of Pemulwuy and Windradyne of the Sydney region [41] and Yagan around Perth. Bungaree accompanied the explorer Matthew Flinders on the first circumnavigation of Australia. Pemulwuy was accused of the first killing of a white settler inand Windradyne resisted early British expansion beyond the Blue Mountains. According to the historian Geoffrey Blaineyin Australia during the colonial period: "In a thousand isolated places there were occasional shootings and spearings. Even worse, smallpox, measles, influenza and other new diseases swept from one Aboriginal camp to another The main conqueror of Aborigines was to be disease Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations its ally, demoralisation". Conflict in the Hawkesbury Nepean river district near the settlement at Sydney continued from to[ citation needed ] including Pemulwuy's War —Tedbury's War — and the Nepean Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations —as well as the interwar violence of the — Conflict. It was fought using mostly guerrilla-warfare tactics; however, several conventional battles also took place. The wars resulted in the defeat of the Hawkesbury and Nepean Indigenous clans who were subsequently dispossessed of their lands. Even before the arrival of European settlers in local districts beyond coastal New South Wales, Eurasian disease often preceded them. A smallpox epidemic was recorded near Sydney inwhich wiped out about half the Aborigines around Sydney. Opinion is divided as Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations the source of the smallpox. Some researchers argue that the smallpox was acquired through contact with Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations fishermen in the far north and then spread across the continent, reaching the Sydney area in The impact of Europeans was profoundly disruptive to Aboriginal life and, though the extent of violence is debated, there was considerable conflict on the frontier. At the same time, some settlers were quite aware they were usurping the Aborigines place in Australia. Insettler Charles Griffiths sought to justify this, writing; "The question comes to this; which has the better right—the savage, born in a country, which he runs over but can scarcely be said to occupy Inanthropologist W. Stanner described the lack of historical Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations of relations between Europeans and Aborigines as "the great Australian silence". William Westgarth 's book on the colony of Victoria observed: "the case of the Aborigines of Victoria confirms Many events illustrate violence and resistance as Aborigines sought to protect their lands from settlers and pastoralists who attempted to establish their presence. Although Tasmanian history is amongst the most contested by modern historians, conflict between colonists and Aborigines was referred to in some contemporary accounts as the Black War. Estimates of how many people were killed during the period begin at aroundthough verification of the true figure is now impossible. The effort failed and George Augustus Robinson Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations to set out unarmed to mediate with the remaining tribespeople in Inat least twenty-eight Aborigines were killed at Myall Creek in New South Wales, resulting in the unprecedented conviction and hanging of six white and one African convict settlers by the colonial courts. Palmer wrote in "the nature of the blacks was so treacherous that they were only guided by fear—in fact it was only possible to rule There are numerous other massacre sites in Australia, although supporting documentation varies. From the s, colonial governments established the now controversial offices of the Protector of Aborigines in an effort to avoid mistreatment of Indigenous peoples and conduct government policy towards them. Christian churches in Australia sought to convert Aborigines, and were often used by government to carry out welfare and assimilation policies. Colonial churchmen such as Sydney's first Catholic archbishop, John Polding strongly advocated for Aboriginal rights and dignity [70] and prominent Aboriginal activist Noel Pearson bornwho was raised at a Lutheran mission in Cape Yorkhas written that Christian missions throughout Australia's colonial history "provided a haven from the hell of life on the Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations frontier while at the same time facilitating colonisation". The Caledon Bay crisis of —34 was one of the last incidents of violent interaction on the 'frontier' of indigenous and non-indigenous Australia, which began when the spearing of Japanese poachers who had been molesting Yolngu women was followed by the killing of a policeman. As the crisis unfolded, national opinion swung behind the Aboriginal people involved, and the first appeal on behalf of an Indigenous Australian to the High Court of Australia was launched. Following the crisis, the anthropologist Donald Thomson was dispatched by the government to live among the Yolngu. Frontier encounters in Australia were not universally negative. Positive accounts of Aboriginal customs and encounters are also recorded in the journals of early European explorers, who often relied on Aboriginal guides and assistance: Charles Sturt employed Aboriginal envoys to explore the Murray-Darling ; the lone survivor of the Burke and Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations expedition was nursed by local Aborigines, and the famous Aboriginal explorer Jackey Jackey loyally accompanied his ill-fated friend Edmund Kennedy to Cape York. In inland Australia, the skills of Aboriginal stockmen became highly regarded and in the 20th century, Aboriginal stockmen like Vincent Lingiari became national figures in their campaigns for better pay and improved working conditions. The removal of indigenous childrenby which mixed-race children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent were removed from their families by Australian Federal and State government agencies and church missions, was a policy actively conducted in the period between approximately and The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission argued that these removals constituted attempted genocide [75] and Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations a major impact on the Indigenous population. Although a theory of Portuguese discovery in the s exists, it lacks definitive evidence. The Dutch, following shipping routes to the Dutch East Indiesor in search of gold, spices or Christian converts, proceeded to contribute a great deal to Europe's knowledge of Australia's coast. These ships made extensive examinations, Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations in the Gulf of Carpentarianamed in honour of de Carpentier. On his second voyage ofhe also contributed significantly to the mapping of Australia proper, making observations on the land and people of the north coast below New Guinea. A map of the world inlaid into the floor of the Burgerzaal " Burger 's Hall" of the new Amsterdam Stadhuis "Town Hall" in revealed the extent of Dutch charts of much of Australia's coast. One inscription said:. It lies precisely in the richest climates of the World Although various proposals for colonisation were Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations, notably by Jean-Pierre Purry from tonone was officially attempted. The Dutch East India Company concluded that there was "no good to be done there". They turned down Purry's scheme with the comment that, "There is no prospect of use or benefit to the Company in it, but rather very certain and heavy costs". With the exception of further Dutch visits to the west, Australia remained largely unvisited by Europeans until the first British explorations. John Callander put forward a proposal in for Britain to found a colony of banished convicts in the South Sea or in Terra Australis Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations enable the mother country to exploit the riches of those regions. He said: "this world must present us with many things entirely Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations, as hitherto we have had little more knowledge of it, than if it had lain in another planet". Cook also carried Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations Admiralty instructions to locate the supposed Southern Continent : "There is reason to imagine that a continent, or land of great extent, may be found to the southward of the track of former navigators. On 19 April the Endeavour sighted the east coast of Australia and ten days later landed at Botany Bay. Cook charted the coast to its northern extent and, along with the ship's naturalist, Joseph Bankswho subsequently reported favourably on the possibilities of establishing a colony at Botany Bay. Seventeen years after Cook's landfall on the east coast of Australia, the British government decided to establish a colony at Botany Bay. The American Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations War — saw Britain lose most of its North American colonies and consider establishing replacement territories. In Sir Joseph Banksthe eminent scientist who had accompanied James Cook on his voyage, recommended Botany Bay as a suitable site for settlement, saying that "it was not to be doubted that a Tract of Land such as New Holland, which was larger than the whole of Europe, would furnish Matter of advantageous Return". History of Australia - Wikipedia

Your encouragement revived the love of exploration which had almost died out in our colony before you arrived. With gratitude and pleasure I ask you to accept the dedication of this volume as an expression of my appreciation of your kindness and support. General Map of Australia, showing the Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations Journeys. As the history of the principal expeditions into the interior of Australia has been narrated by several able writers, Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations do Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations propose to repeat what has already been so well told. But, to make the narrative of my own journeys more intelligible, and to explain the motives for making them, it is necessary that I should briefly Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations the expeditions undertaken for the purpose of ascertaining Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations nature of the vast regions intervening between Western and the other Australian colonies, and determining the possibility of opening up direct overland communication. With energetic, if at times uncertain, steps the adventurous colonists have advanced from the settlements on the eastern and southern coasts of the vast island into the interior. Expeditions, led by intrepid explorers, have forced their way against all but insurmountable difficulties into the hitherto unknown regions which lie to the north and west of the eastern colonies. Settlements have been established on the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Burke and a small party crossed Australia from south to north, enduring innumerable hardships, Burke, with two of his associates, perishing on the return journey. About the same time Stuart crossed farther to the west, reaching the very centre of Australia, and telegraphic wires now almost exactly follow his line of route, affording communication, by way of Port Darwin, between Adelaide and the great telegraphic systems of the world. The telegraph line divides Australia into two portions, nearly equal in dimensions, but very different in character. To the Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations are Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations busy and Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations advancing settlements, fertile plains, extensive ranges of grassy downs, broad rivers, abundant vegetation; to the west a great lone land, a wilderness interspersed with salt marshes and lakes, barren hills, and spinifex deserts. It is the Sahara of the south, but a Sahara with few oases of fertility, beyond which is the thin fringe of scattered settlements of the colony of Western Australia. To cross this desert, to discover routes connecting the western territory with South Australia and the line marked by the telegraph, has been the ambition of later explorers. Gregory attempted, from the north, to ascend the Victoria River, but only reached the upper edge of the great desert. Leichardt, who had previously Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations from Moreton Bay, on the eastern Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations, to Port Essington on the northern, attempted to cross from the eastern to the western shores, and has not since been heard of. Eyre made a journey, memorable for the misfortunes which attended it, and the sufferings he endured, from Adelaide round the head of the great bay, or Bight of Southern Australia, to Perth, the capital of Western Australia; and much more recently Colonel Egerton Warburton succeeded in crossing from the telegraphic line to the western coast across the northern part of the great wilderness, nearly touching the farthest point reached by Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations. It was in the yearonly four years after the foundation of South Australia, that the first great attempt to discover a route from Adelaide to the settlements in Western Australia was made. There then resided in South Australia a Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations of great energy and restless activity, Edward John Eyre, whose name was afterwards known throughout the world in connexion with the Jamaica outbreak ofand the measures which, as Governor, he adopted for repressing it. It was anticipated that a profitable trade between the colonies might be carried on if sheep and other live-stock could be transferred from one to the other in a mode less expensive than was afforded by the sea route between Adelaide and the Swan River. Eyre did not believe Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations the possibility of establishing a practicable route, but urged, through the press, the desirability of exploring the vast regions to the north, which he anticipated would afford a good and profitable field for adventurous enterprise. He offered to lead an expedition which should explore the country around the great salt lake lying to the north-west of the settled portion of the colony, and Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations which the name of Lake Torrens had been given. Very little was known of Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations lake, and absolutely nothing of the country beyond. The Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations supposition, in which Eyre shared, was that there existed a large space of barren land, most Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations the bed of a sea which had at one time divided the continent into several islands; but it was hoped that no insuperable difficulties in the way of crossing it would present themselves, and beyond might be a fertile and valuable district, offering an almost unbounded field for settlement, and with which permanent communications might without great difficulty be established. Some geographers were of opinion that an inland sea might be in existence, and, if so, of course water communication with the northern half of Australia could be effected. Eyre's proposition found ready acceptance with the colonists, The Government granted pounds--a small sum indeed--but the colony was then young, and far from being in flourishing circumstances. Friends lent their assistance, enthusiasm was aroused, and in little more than three weeks from the time when Eyre proposed the expedition, he started on his journey. Five Europeans accompanied him, and two natives, black boys, were attached to the party, which was provided with thirteen horses, forty sheep, and provisions for three months. Lake Torrens was reached, and then the difficulties of the expedition began. Although dignified with the name of lake, it proved to be an enormous swamp, without surface water, and the mud coated with a thin layer Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations salt. The party struggled to effect a passage, and penetrated into the slime for six miles, until they were in imminent danger of sinking. The lake, or rather salt swamp, presented a barrier which Eyre considered it impossible to overcome. The party turned in a westerly direction, and reached the sea at Port Lincoln. Here a little open boat was obtained, and Mr. Scott, Eyre's courageous companion, undertook to attempt to reach Adelaide and obtain further supplies. This he successfully accomplished, returning in the Water Witch with stores and provisions, two more men, and some kangaroo dogs. The map shows that a journey of more than miles must have been made before the point was reached. Thence they attempted to make their way round the head of the Bight, but were twice baffled by want of water. Nothing daunted, Eyre made a third attempt, and succeeded in penetrating fifty miles beyond the head of the Bight. But the result was achieved only at a cost which the little party could ill sustain. Four of the best horses perished, which deprived Eyre of the means of carrying provisions, and he had Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations decide between abandoning the expedition altogether or still further reducing the number of his companions. Scott and three men returned to Adelaide, leaving behind a man named Baxter, who had long been in Eyre's employ as an overseer or factotum; the two natives who had first started with him, and a boy, Wylie, who had before been in Eyre's service, and who had been brought back in the cutter. Six months after Eyre had started from Adelaide, he was left with only four companions to continue the journey. He had acquired Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations experience of the privations to be encountered, but refused to comply with the wishes of Colonel Gawler, the Governor, to abandon the expedition as hopeless, and return to Adelaide. Indeed, with characteristic inflexibility--almost approaching to obstinacy--he resolved to attempt the western route along the shore of the Great Bight--a journey which, only a few months before, he had himself described as impracticable. The cutter which had been stationed at Fowler Bay, to afford assistance if required, departed on the 31st of January,and Eyre and his small party were left to their fate. He had been defeated in the attempt to push forward in a northward direction, and he resolved not to return without having accomplished something which would justify the confidence of the public in his energy and courageous spirit of adventure. If he could not reach the north, he would attempt the western route, whatever might be the result of his enterprise. After resting to recruit the strength of his party, Eyre resolutely set out, on the 25th of February, on what proved to be a journey attended by almost unexampled demands upon human endurance. Nine Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations, one pony, six sheep, and a provision of flour, tea, and sugar for nine weeks, formed the slender stores of the little party, which resolutely set forward to track an unknown path to the west. Accompanied by one of the Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations, Eyre went on in advance to find water. For five days, during which time he travelled about miles, no water was obtained, and the distress endured by men and animals was extreme. It is not necessary to dwell on every incident of this terrible journey. Eyre's descriptions, animated by remembrances of past sufferings, possess a graphic vigour which cannot be successfully emulated. Sometimes it was found necessary to divide the party, so wretched was the country, and so difficult was it to obtain sufficient water in even the most limited supply for man and beast. Once Eyre was alone for six days, with only three quarts of water, some of which evaporated, and more was spilt. But his indomitable determination to accomplish the journey on which he had resolved never failed. He knew that at least miles of desert country lay between him and the nearest settlement of Western Australia; but even that prospect, the certain privations, the probable miserable death, did not daunt him in the journey. The horses broke down from thirst and fatigue; the pony died; the survivors crawled languidly about, "like dogs, looking to their masters only for aid. To their inexpressible joy, some sand-hills were reached, and, after digging, a supply of water was obtained for their refreshment, and for six days the party rested by the spot to recruit their strength. The overseer and one of the natives then went back forty-seven miles Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations recover the little store of provisions they had been compelled to abandon. Two out of the three horses he took with him broke Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations, and with great difficulty he succeeded in rejoining Eyre. At this time the party were miles from their destination, with only three weeks' provisions, estimated on the most reduced scale. Baxter, the overseer, wished to attempt to return; but, Eyre being resolute, the overseer loyally determined to stay with him to the last. One horse was killed for food; dysentery broke out; the natives deserted them, but came back starving and penitent, and were permitted to remain with the white men. Then came the tragedy which makes this narrative so conspicuously terrible, even in the annals of Australian exploration. Two of the black Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations shot the overseer, Baxter, as he slept, and then ran away, perishing, it is supposed, miserably in the desert. Eyre, when some distance from the place where poor Baxter rested, looking after the horses, heard the report of the gun and hurried back, arriving just in time to receive the pathetic look of farewell from the Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations man, who Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations served him so long and so faithfully. Wylie, the black boy, who had been with Eyre in Adelaide, now alone remained, and it is scarcely possible to imagine a more appalling situation than that in which Eyre then found himself. The murderers had carried away nearly the whole of the scanty stock of provisions, leaving only forty pounds of flour, a little tea and sugar, and four gallons of water. They had also taken the two available guns, and nearly all the ammunition. The body of Baxter was wrapped in a blanket--they could not even dig a grave in the barren rock. Left with his sole companion, Eyre sadly resumed the march, their steps tracked by the two blacks, who probably meditated further murders; but, with only cowardly instincts, they dared not approach the intrepid man, who at length outstripped them, and they were never heard of more. Still no water Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations found for miles; then a slight supply, and the two men struggled on, daily becoming weaker, living on horse-flesh, an occasional kangaroo, and the few fish that were to be caught--for it must be remembered that at no time were they far from the coast. On the 2nd of Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations, nearly four months after they had bidden good-bye to the cutter at Fowler's Bay, they stood on the cliffs, Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations out over the ocean, when they saw in the distance two objects which were soon recognized as boats, and shortly afterwards, to their unbounded joy, they discerned the masts of a vessel on the farther side of a small rocky island. Animated by a new life, Eyre pushed on until he reached a point whence he succeeded in hailing the ship, and a boat was sent off. The vessel proved to be a French whaler, the Mississippi, commanded by an Englishman, Captain Rossiter. The worn-out travellers stayed on board for a fortnight, experiencing the utmost kindness, and with recruited strength and food and clothing, they bade a grateful farewell to the captain and crew, and resumed their journey. For twenty-three days more Eyre and his attendant Wylie pursued their way. Rain fell heavily, and the cold was intense; but at length, on the 27th of July, they reached Albany, in Western Australia, and the journey was accomplished. For more than twelve months Eyre had been engaged forcing his way from Adelaide to the Western colony; and the incidents of the journey have been dwelt upon because afterwards I passed over the same ground, though in the opposite direction, and the records of Eyre's expedition were of the greatest service to me, by at least enabling me to guard against a repetition of the terrible sufferings he endured. It is further necessary to refer to another of the journeys of exploration which preceded my own--that of the unfortunate Leichardt. He endeavoured to cross the continent from east to west, starting from Moreton Bay, Queensland, hoping to reach the Western Australian settlements. In Leichardt had succeeded in crossing the north-western portion of the continent from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, and he conceived the gigantic project of reaching Western Australia. Towards the end ofaccompanied by eight men, with provisions estimated at two years' supply, he started on his journey. He took with him an enormous number of animals sheep, goats, 40 bullocks, 15 horses, and 13 mules. They must have greatly encumbered his march, and the difficulty Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations obtaining food necessarily much impeded his movements. His original intention was first to steer north, following for some distance his previous track, and then, as opportunity offered, to strike westward and make Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations across the continent. After disastrous wanderings for seven months, in the course of which they lost the whole of their cattle and sheep, the party returned. Disappointed, but not discouraged, Leichardt resolved on another attempt to achieve the task he had set himself. With great difficulty he obtained some funds; organized a small but ill-provided party, and again started for the interior. The last ever heard of him was a letter, dated the 3rd of April, He was then in the Fitzroy Downs; he wrote in good spirits, hopefully as to his prospects: "Seeing how much I have been favoured in my present progress, I am full of hopes that our Almighty Protector will allow me to bring my darling scheme to a successful termination. From that day the fate of Leichardt and his companions has been involved in mystery. He was then on the Cogoon River, in Eastern Australia, at least miles from the nearest station on the western side of the continent. His last letter gives no clue to the track he intended to pursue. If a westerly course had been struck he would have nearly traversed the route which subsequently Warburton travelled; but no trace of him has ever been discovered. Several expeditions were undertaken to ascertain his fate; at various times expectations were aroused by finding trees marked L; but Leichardt himself, on previous journeys, had met with trees so Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations, by whom is unknown. Natives found in the remote interior were questioned; they told vague stories of the murder of white men, but all investigations resulted in the conclusion that the statements were as untrustworthy as those Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations made to explorers who question uninformed, ignorant natives. Burke and Wills expedition - Wikipedia

This article discusses the history of Australia from the arrival of European explorers in the 16th century to the present. For a more Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations discussion of Aboriginal culturesee Australian Aboriginal peoples. Prior to documented history, travelers from Asia may have reached Australia. Likewise, Muslim voyagers who visited and settled in Southeast Asia came within miles km of Australia, and adventure, wind, or current might have carried some individuals the Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations distance. Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations Arab and Chinese documents tell of a southern land, but with such inaccuracy that they scarcely clarify the argument. Makassarese seamen certainly Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations off Arnhem Landin the Northern Territoryfrom the late 18th century and may have done so for generations. The quest for wealth and knowledge might logically have pulled the Portuguese to Australian shores; the assumption has some evidential support, including a reference indicating that Melville Island, off the northern coast, supplied slaves. He and some later Roman Catholic historians saw this as the discovery of the southern land. Pieter Nuyts explored almost 1, miles 1, km of the southern coast in —27, and other Dutchmen added to knowledge of the north and west. Most important of all Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations the work of Abel Tasmanwho won such respect as a seaman in the Dutch East Indies that in Governor-General Anthony van Diemen of the Indies commissioned him to explore southward. He then explored the island of New Zealand before returning to Bataviaon Java. The Netherlands spent little more effort in exploration, and the other great Protestant power in Europe, England, took over the role. On returning to England, he published his Voyages and persuaded the Admiralty to back another venture. He traversed the western coast for 1, miles — and reported more fully than any previous explorer, but he did so in terms so critical of the land and its people that another hiatus resulted. The middle decades of the 18th century saw much writing about the curiosities and possible commercial value of the southern seas and terra australis incognita. This was not restricted to Great Britain, but it had especial vigour there. The British government showed its interest by backing several voyages. Hopes flourished for a mighty empire of commerce in the eastern seas. This was the background Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations the three voyages of Captain James Cook on behalf of the British Admiralty. The first, that of the HMS Endeavourleft England in August and had its climax on April 20,when a crewman sighted southeastern Australia. Cook landed several times, most notably at Botany Bay and at Possession Island in the north, where on August 23 he claimed the land, naming it New South Wales. Marion Dufresne of France skirted Tasmania inseeing more than had Tasman. In the British navigator George Vancouver traversed and described the southern shores discovered by Pieter Nuyts years before. Two Britons— George Bassa naval surgeon, and Matthew Flindersa naval officer— were the most famous postsettlement explorers. Together they entered some harbours on the Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations near Botany Bay in and Bass ventured farther south in —98, pushing around Cape Everard to Western Port. Flinders was in that region early incharting the Furneaux Islands. Late that year Flinders and Bass circumnavigated Tasmania in the Norfolkestablishing that it was an island and making further discoveries. Several other navigators, including merchantmen, filled out knowledge of the Bass Strait area; most notable was the discovery of Port Phillip in Meanwhile Flinders had returned home and in was appointed to command an expedition that would circumnavigate Australia and virtually complete the charting of the continent. Over the next three years Flinders proved equal to this task. Above all, he left no doubt that the Australian continent was a single landmass. Appropriately, Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations urged that the name Australia replace New Hollandand this change received official backing from It was on the northern coast, from Arnhem Land to Cape York PeninsulaAustralian Religious Thought: Six Explorations more exploration was needed. The British government determined on settling New South Wales inand colonization began early in The motives for this move have become a matter of some controversy. The traditional view is that Britain thereby sought to relieve the pressure upon its prisons —a pressure intensified by the loss of its American colonieswhich until that time had accepted transported felons. But some historians have argued that this glossed a scheme to provide a bastion for British sea power in the eastern seas. Some have seen a purely strategic purpose in settlement, but others have postulated an intent to use the colony as a springboard for economic exploitation of the area. It is very likely that the government had some interest in all these factors. Whatever the deeper motivation, plans went ahead, with Lord Sydney Thomas Townshendsecretary of state for home affairs, as the guiding authority. The First Fleet sailed on Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations 13,with 11 vessels, including 6 transports, aboard which were about Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations men and women. More than free persons accompanied the convicts, chiefly marines of various rank. The fleet reached Botany Bay on January 19—20, Crisis threatened at once. The Botany Bay area had poor soil and little water, and the harbour itself was inferior. Phillip therefore sailed northward on January 21 and entered a superb harbour, Port Jacksonwhich Cook had marked but not explored. He moved the fleet there; the flag Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations hoisted on January 26 and the formalities of government begun on February 7. Sydney Cove, the focus of settlement, was deep within Port Jackson, on the southern side; around it was to grow the city of Sydney. Phillip at once established an outstation at Norfolk Island. Its history was to be checkered; settlement was abandoned in and revived in to provide a jail for convicts who misbehaved in Australia. It served a new purpose from as a home for the descendants of the mutineers of the HMS Bountyby then too numerous for Pitcairn Island. Phillip remained as governor until Decemberseeing New South Wales through its darkest days. The land was indifferent, disease and pests abounded, few convicts proved able labourers, and Aboriginal people were often Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations. The nadir came in Australian Religious Thought: Six Explorations as supplies shrank; the arrival of a second fleet brought hundreds of sickly convicts but also the means of survival. Australia Article Media Additional Info. Article Contents. Load Previous Page. History This article discusses the history of Australia from the arrival of European explorers in the 16th century to the present. Australia to Early exploration and colonization Early contacts and approaches Prior to documented history, travelers from Asia may have reached Australia. The Portuguese The quest for wealth and knowledge might logically have pulled the Portuguese to Australian shores; the assumption has some evidential support, including a reference indicating that Melville Island, off the northern coast, supplied slaves. The Duyfken off Australia,oil on canvas by Robert Ingpen, William MacLeod, Load Next Page.